The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World (The MIT Press)

by Adam Gazzaley

Andrew Przybylski and Netta Weinstein of the University of Essex examined the impact of simply having a phone present during an interpersonal social setting.46 In two face-to-face studies, the researchers had two people who had never met spend ten minutes either having a casual conversation or discussing meaningful personal matters. In one condition, a mobile phone—not belonging to either of the participants—was placed either on a nearby table within full view but not in the direct line of sight of either one, or was absent and replaced by a similar-size notebook. Following the short conversation, both partners rated their feelings of closeness, trust, empathy, and understanding with the other partner. Strikingly, as the authors concluded, “the mere presence of mobile phones inhibited the development of interpersonal closeness and trust, and reduced the extent to which individuals felt empathy and understanding from their partners.”